Calvary Baltimore Weekly Sermons

At Jesus' crucifixion, two thieves hung beside him. They both mocked Jesus at first, but one had a change of heart, asking Jesus to remember him in his Kingdom. This is the choice we all have to make when faced with Christ. It's never too late to turn to him, even in our darkest moments. Salvation isn't about our works, but about our heart's position towards Jesus. We must examine our own hearts and consider: do we truly believe Jesus is who he says he is? He's not just a rabbi, but our Lord and Savior!

Our God is the God who speaks to us, the God who sings to us, and the God who marries us. He's artistic and communicative by nature: he speaks creation into existence, and his communication continues with humanity. His creation is an artistic expression of his character and wisdom.

Though mankind fell in Eden, he continues to pursue us, and redeems us with Christ's sacrifice on the cross!

The Trinity shows harmonious unity, like the notes of a musical chord. Unity among believers is a powerful witness to the nature of God.

God's love for mankind is expressed through his pursuit of us as his bride, and he refines us through trials, like a purifying fire.

Sin begets sin: one sin leads to another and they compound.

John the Baptist spoke truth to Herod and Herodias, which impressed Herod, but angered Herodias; some people are attracted to the Holy Spirit, but some are repelled. When Herod, weakened by fleshly desire for Herodias' daughter, offered her anything she wanted, Herodias used the opportunity to have John the Baptist killed. And so Herod's sins had built upon each other and multiplied, eventually bringing him to order the death of an innocent man.

Satan tempted Jesus when he was at his physically weakest; this is when temptation of all kinds has the strongest pull. Among the deadliest of all of Satan's arrows is sexual sin. As we consider that sin can travel in family circles as children imitate their parents, we must flee from sexual immorality!

If Herod had repented, as deep into sin as he was, God would have forgiven him. Though Satan will accuse endlessly, we should never get caught in the trap of thinking our sin is too big for God to forgive! If we've been washed clean by the blood of the lamb, all our sins, past, present and future, are already forgiven, so we give our guilt to God. We can rest in full assurance of our faith and take shelter in the Lord Jesus Christ!

If we sin again after being forgiven, repent. Accept his forgiveness and live it: be free, be made useful, and glorify God! We are not outside his grace, so we should be the most joyful people in existence!

The term "apostle" is a special designation for someone to whom Jesus gave authority to teach on his behalf, even to write Scripture itself. Today we have bishops, presbyters, pastors, deacons and other offices, but the apostolic age ended with the twelve apostles. 

When the apostles stayed in a home, regardless of its comfort level, they were to stay there to be a blessing to that family. If the people of a town didn't receive the Word, they were to treat those people as pagans and leave, even if they were Jews; they don't belong to God.

The twelve anointed the sick with oil, a new practice in the New Testament. In light of the Old Testament practice of anointing with oil into an office, it may be that the apostles were able to anoint people into the Kingdom, into service for the Lord. 

3 main thoughts...

1. Jesus asked the apostles to do things that are beyond their comfort zone; he does this with us too! Life is bigger than mere comfort and familiarity. We must go through refining and deepening of our faith through the trials life brings!

2. Is it wise therefore to underpay a pastor in order to produce this maturity? No. Jesus later says in Luke 22:36 to let those who have money and possessions take it with them. Use those things to God's glory and the benefit of the Kingdom.

3. Meek authority... the apostles were given authority by God. Godly authority is to be wielded with a meekness. 1 Peter 3:15, "... in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect..." We should witness with meekness, with power restrained. 

Final thoughts...

A. God has called each of us to go into the world and share the message of Jesus.

B. When sharing that message, we must love people enough to tell them the whole truth, to call them to repentance.

C. When the message isn't received well, we must respond with gentleness and respect, with meekness.

God called the apostles, and he equipped them; he will equip you for your calling as well. He brings us through the valleys to teach us not to fear. He sent his son to save the world, and that requires not acceptance of the world's sin, but repentance from it. So we must tell the truth in love, remaining faithful to God's message!

The people of Nazareth grew up with Jesus, so he was familiar to them; they didn't see him as any big deal. In our lives, we may know people who grew up knowing about Jesus and are very familiar with him, but who've never fully handed their lives over to him.

Being near Jesus and knowing some things about him is not the same as believing in him. It's not enough; we must trust and believe! We must submerge our entire selves in the blood of Christ, for he is worthy!

When Jesus returned to his hometown, he was not valued as he should have been. He made no great outpouring of mighty works there, as the Holy Spirit hadn't opened the hearts of the people.

As believers with discernment, we are to honor and glorify, value and acknowledge our God. Praise him and make him known! You were bought with a price: the blood of our Savior. So shine on his behalf, live faithfully with integrity. Our chief duty is to glorify him!

At the end of today's message, Pastor Josh addresses a question that may come to the forefront in the near future, and is good to keep in mind regardless: how are we to live in times of war?

Jesus is the source of light and life; he chases away the darkness of sin. He is the physical embodiment of God's Word, present from creation, bringing light and life to believers. We're called to live confidently as children of the light of Christ!

Joseph's brothers were jealous of their father's favoritism toward him, and left him to die, causing him to be sold into Egyptian slavery. After correctly interpreting Pharaoh's dream, he rose to second in command of Egypt. Years later, Joseph invited his estranged brothers for dinner and concocted a scenario that ultimately proved to him that his brothers had changed their ways: one brother, Judah, was willing to sacrifice his life for his brother Benjamin. Joseph then revealed his identity to his brothers, and they repented for what they did to him! They wept together, hugged and kissed, and talked for a long time after.

John 15:13... "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."

This story shows the importance of repentance! In Acts 2, after the Holy Spirit descends upon the disciples in the upper room, Peter gives a sermon... 3,000 are saved and ask, "what must we do?" Peter answers: "Repent and be baptized!" The first thing when confronted with the truth of the Gospel is to repent! Turn away from wicked ways, and towards God. Forgiveness can be given freely, but actual restoration can only happen with repentance.

Effective prayer begins with a life of walking the path of Christ. The prayer itself must be real, from your heart, not just giving lip service, or repeating canned prayers without meaning.

With the Holy Spirit's leading, and because of the work of the Son, we pray with confidence directly to God the Father, in fear and awe of his holiness and authority, asking for what our hearts desire, but in deference to his perfect will!